SPLURGE!316 December 2022

We have assembled a highly competent team of surgeons, physicians, nurses, technicians and support sta that are dedicated to providing the highest level patient care. They understand that the best medicine is achieved through the empowerment of caregivers so they are unhindered in their quest to deliver compassionate and evidence based health care. Such care is complemented by utilizing the latest in medical technology while listening to each patient’s needs and customizing care plans.

Heart & Seek

Here’s how to play:

• Find the Heart Diamond in the pages of this month’s SPLURGE! Magazine.

• Go to mikeseltzerjewelers.com and scroll to the bottom to register your answer.

• Like SPLURGE! and Mike Seltzer Jewelers on Facebook and/or Follow on Instagram.

• A winner will be chosen on December 12. Congrats to everyone who found the Heart Diamond on page 71 of the November issue. Margo Nunn of Wichita won the drawing and received a pair of diamond earrings from Mike Seltzer Jewelers.

or listed in this publication. Listings and advertisements are provided by the subject companies, Inspired Koncepts, Inc. shall not be responsible or liable for any inaccuracy, omission or infringement of any third party’s rights therein, or for personal injury or any other damage or injury whatsoever. By placing an order for an advertisement, the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publisher against any claims relating to the advertisement.

Mike Seltzer Jewelers is giving away this stunning necklace to the winner of the December contest!

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Our Cover, Your Kid

Check out the finalists who made it to the top in the annual SPLURGE! Our Cover, Your Kid contest! We received loads of entries and narrowing it down to just a few was a tough job! Read more about these cute kiddos!

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‘Hidden Gem on the Prairie’

Perhaps one of the first homes in Wichita to feature an open floor plan, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Allen House in College Hill was built in 1918. It’s a destination for architecture buffs from around the globe.

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The 1 Million Books Challenge

Storytime Village founder Prisca Barnes has a vision: to get 1 million books into the hands of underserved children across the state of Kansas. She’s recruiting community supporters to be the village for early learners.

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Holiday Happenings

Families seeking all the spirit and fun of the season will discover plenty this year – including a live nativity scene, tractor and horse-drawn hayrides, an Arctic Adventure and festive dinosaurs!

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Ballet Wichita’s ‘The Nutcracker’

This holiday season dancer Tim Cao is bringing all of his considerable experience to the role of Cavalier. Although just 19, Cao has performed on stages from Wichita to Kansas City to Broadway.

Our Cover, Your Kid

The Finalists!

You don’t have to go far in Wichita to find a cute kid! We put out the invite and you answered in droves, sending in photos of your adorable children and grandchildren in the 316 area for our annual Our Cover, Your Kid Contest. Whittling it down to just five finalists was a tough job!

The finalists were invited to a photo shoot at Tobie Andrews Photography, where they posed for the camera in their holiday best. These kids don’t just have looks, they have personalities to match! We loved meeting these charming children who range in age from 6 to 12. (The 2021 contest featured kids ages 1–5.)

We asked the finalists’ parents to tell us a little more about their children. Read on to see what they had to say!

Parents: Ghenwa and Shadi Shahouri Grade in school: First Interests: Soccer, ballet, cooking and science Personality: She is friendly and social Other fun facts: She’s the middle child and was so excited to be in SPLURGE!

Parent: Johnathan Weigand Grade in school: Third Interests: Tennis, golf, swimming, karate, football and cars

Personality: He is very outgoing and sweet, loves to be social and likes spending time with friends.

Other fun facts: JR loves roller coasters!

Parents: Tiffany and Pete Cohlmia Grade in school: Seventh Interests: Dance at Kansas Dance Academy and tumbling Personality: She is sweet and loves to help people

Other fun facts: Her parents call her “Bridgie” and she was the Our Cover, Your Kid winner in 2014 when she was 4!

Parents: LaToya Clark and Glenn Williams II Grade in school: First Interests: Drawing, dinosaurs, video games, movies

Personality: He’s funny, smart, loving and cares about helping strangers Other fun facts: He likes basketball and boxing and was excited to be a finalist!

Talia Shahouri, age 6

Johnathan “JR” Weigand, age 12 Kelby Williams, age 6

Bridget Cohlmia, age 12

Cover Winner

Brooklyn Seglem, age 12

Parents: Mark and Stacy Seglem

Grade in school: Fifth Interests: Singing, acting, songwriting, volleyball, animals of any kind

Personality: She is fun, witty, kind, caring, loves Jesus and doesn’t know a stranger!

Other fun facts: She has a Maltipoo named Nico

A Helping Heart

Our cover winner, Brooklyn Seglem, has her sights set on big things! The only child of Mark and Stacy Seglem loves to act, sing and write music and hopes to appear on “America’s Got Talent” someday. But while she’s dreaming big, she’s also just a normal fifth-grader who loves to play with friends, help at church and spend time with her grandparents, Judy and Del Thoman and Knute and Cherie Seglum, all of Wichita.

When she learned she had won the cover contest, her mom said she couldn’t stop squealing and jumping up and down. But she also didn’t want to brag and decided not to mention her big news in school. “She is so compassionate and has a huge heart for others and Jesus,” Stacy said. “She has a heart for the poor and the homeless. We’ve actually stopped to help many homeless people with food, clothing, shoes and other things. There are just too many ways to describe how kind she is!”

Brooklyn has started to get a little stage time, acting in a play at Trinity Academy this summer, singing on the Riverfest stage at the NewSpring Church Christian Concert, and starring in a short film produced by NewSpring that will be shown on Christmas Day. She takes voice and guitar lessons.

She also co-wrote a song called “Doing Big Things” with her former voice teacher, Austin Renfroe, that the two are hoping to release on iTunes. The words sum up Brooklyn’s feelings about her aspirations and her faith: “You’ve got a plan for me, better than all my dreams. You say to just believe – well I believe, and I can’t wait to see you doing big things, doing big things in my life, doing big things, doing big things all the time.”

We’re looking forward to seeing Brooklyn’s next big thing!

Spotlight on Youth Mental Health

Written by Eric Litwiller MHA Director of Development and Communications

The Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas (MHA) celebrated their 65th year of serving the mental health needs of the region with their annual Beautiful Minds Gala at Mark Arts, October 8, with proceeds supporting programs in their children’s division that serve Wichita and surrounding areas. Youth mental health remains a critical concern across Kansas, with a recent national survey ranking us last overall in access to care, youth living with mental illness, therapists per capita, and other measures that dramatically impact our children’s lives and our economic output.

The various programs within MHA’s youth division serve a variety of purposes – everything from offering mentors to at-risk children to case management. And that includes schoolbased groups in Wichita, Derby and Haysville that help our kids see they are not alone in their daily struggles with eating disorders, bullying, family dysfunction and more. Evidence shows that 50 percent of people who will ever live with a mental illness – diagnosed or not – begin to show symptoms of that illness by the time they are 14 years old. And the CDC tracks suicides in children as young as 5 years old. So for parents to dismiss signs of a mental health concern as a “mood” or a “phase” simply because of their young age are making critical errors.

As a 501(c)(3), MHA has always done everything possible to keep their programs available at no cost to those willing to seek the help they need for themselves and their families. In order to do this, events like the Beautiful Minds Gala are all the more important. Just days after the 2022 event, tickets and tables were already selling for 2023, and several sponsors like Iron Insurance Partners, P.E.C., and ComfortCare Homes had already re-committed their support for next year.

To offer your support or to speak with someone at MHA about how we can serve your family or company, call 316.651.1241 or visit mhasck.org.

This column made possible with the gracious support of Parks Motors.

Emily VinZant, MD

Mono a Mono: The Fight Against EBV

Written by SPLURGE! Staff

Common Virus Can Lead to Autoimmune Diseases

Epstein-Barr virus may not be in your vernacular, but some of the diseases that are related to it surely are: mononucleosis, multiple sclerosis and lymphoma, to name a few. Now researchers think they have a breakthrough that could help prevent EBV, the virus that can lead to much more serious maladies.

Testing of the EBV vaccine is in its early stages, but so far the results have been very promising, said Dr. Terry Klein of Wichita, a partner at AMR (The Alliance for Multispecialty Research). “We now know how this vaccine is tolerated and works, and with that knowledge comes experience that enables us to make scientific hypotheses and move on through the phases of research, hopefully ending with a successful vaccine.”

EBV is a member of the herpes family and is one of the most common human viruses, found all over the world. It spreads through bodily fluids – namely saliva – and is highly contagious. Most people get EBV sometime in their lives; in fact, nine out of 10 adults have EBV antibodies. “If you stopped adults and gave them a random blood test, 90 percent would have immunity,” Klein said.

Many people are infected with EBV in childhood and usually don’t have symptoms, or may have very mild symptoms that are typical of brief childhood illnesses. Teenagers and adults who get EBV may have symptoms for two to four weeks like fatigue, fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and rash. Once infected with EBV, the virus becomes inactive but remains in your body. The virus can reactivate and may or may not cause symptoms, but can spread to others during this time. “The reactivation is a hard thing to map out because the disease is different as it gets reactivated,” Klein said. “The real crux of the matter is that Epstein-Barr is absolutely associated with the development of MS. We also know it’s associated with certain lymphomas – cancers that have been somewhat difficult to work with.”

EBV is especially concerning for people with autoimmune diseases. The virus appears to “switch on” certain genes that could trigger MS, systemic lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, Type 1 diabetes, juvenile arthritis and celiac disease, according to an article by science.org.

“The reason we want to have a vaccine is we need it for the prevention of exposure and acquisition of the virus,” Klein said. “There is a preventative reason to vaccinate and there is a treatment objective for the vaccination. We have two studies in

humans looking at dosing and effectiveness of preventing EBV but also preventing MS and lymphomas that are secondary.”

AMR’s Wichita East office is enrolling candidates ages 18 and older for a drug trial on the vaccine. They’re looking for healthy individuals who haven’t previously been exposed to EBV. That’s a challenge considering 90 percent of adults have the antibody and there’s no way to tell if you have the antibody without a blood test.

“We’ve screened 30 and only three are EBV negative,” Klein said. “The younger you are, the less probable it is that you’re infected. College kids are perfect candidates. Anyone can screen for this trial but the most probable to show they don’t have the antibodies are going to be young people.”

Klein said researchers know the vaccine will play a part in helping the immune system work in concert with the body to fight diseases like cancer and MS. “That’s the big door we want to walk through,” he said.

AMR Wichita East is looking for healthy candidates ages 18 and up to take part in the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) Vaccine Trial. Candidates taking part in the study will be compensated. If you think you’re a good candidate, call AMR Wichita East at 316.867.6329.

Epstein-Barr Virus Clinical Research Study

AMR Wichita East, formerly Heartland Research Associates, is currently enrolling in an investigational Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) clinical research study that is evaluating a vaccination for the prevention of EBV, which can lead to multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases.

To qualify, you must:

• be 18 years of age or older

AMR

Wichita East

• be naive to the Epstein-Barr Virus. Candidates will be screened with a blood test to determine if they have the EBV antibodies.

• meet other study criteria

Qualified participants will receive at no cost:

• all study-related care

• investigational vaccination or placebo

You may be reimbursed for time and study-related travel expense. Insurance is not required.

To see if you qualify, call AMR Wichita East at 316-867-6329 or follow the link below for one of our recruitment specialists to contact you directly.

WAVE OF LIGHT

Bridget’s Cradles

in

at the Bridget’s Cradles Wave of Light event at Beech Lake in Wichita. In conjunction with Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, bereaved families, along with Bridget’s Cradles volunteers and community members, walked in remembrance among a light display with over 50,000 pink, blue and white lights. Bridget’s Cradles provides hospitals in all 50 states with knitted and crocheted cradles to hold babies who were born into heaven during the second trimester of pregnancy. Visit bridgetscradles.com.

Event volunteers Stephanie Singer, Dena Broderick, Ashley Opliger, Teresa Golik, Casey Siegrist, Kelcey Crone

The families of Imais King Owens, Mckenna Rose Mendoza and Daxton Titus

The family of Avery Ryan Gross

The family of Keenan Luis Monez

The Crone and Hoffman families

The family of Bridget Faith Opliger (the founders of Bridget’s Cradles)

The family of Bennett Farney

The Cliver family

The family of Ashlynn Marie Akin-Davis

The family of Cooper Dean Anderson

Shelly and Kevin Burrus

Families remembered their babies

heaven

Maintain Perspective for Financial Success

It is easy to get overwhelmed in our world today. Our country is divided on many issues. We are experiencing social unrest and unrestrained hateful rhetoric in public forums. We are facing rising interest rates and global recessions. The highest inflation in a generation is hurting our pocketbook. The stock market has been down around 20 percent all year. The culmination of all of these issues at once has been a breeding ground for fear in 2022, especially as it relates to our investment portfolios. To be successful, you need to push fear aside and maintain a proper perspective.

FEAR

Fear is a very powerful emotion, and you generally make poor financial decisions when they are based on fear. Dr. Bill Winston once said, “Fear is the greatest obstacle to success.” Fear has a tendency to make people shut down and make no decisions at all. That’s what is so dangerous. As an investor, some of your greatest opportunities for growth can materialize during times of turmoil when others are making bad decisions. When we are gripped by fear, it is difficult to make rational decisions – but that’s exactly what is needed to ensure we successfully navigate through these financially difficult times. Don’t let fear be an obstacle to your financial success.

PERSPECTIVE

Making rational decisions about investing requires that you maintain a proper perspective. When it comes to the financial markets, perspective is based on years – not days, weeks or months. In other words, you can’t look at a single month’s statement on your investment account and draw any conclusions about what you should do. You should make investment decisions on what’s likely to happen over years in the market.

According to Yardeni Research, there have been 21 bear markets since 1928 with an average length of 347 days and an average loss of 37 percent. But, during this same period of time, there have been 24 bull markets with an average length of 1,102 days and an average gain of 121 percent. So, although the bear markets can be painful while we endure them, try to rest assured in the knowledge that the opportunities of the bull markets far outweigh the losses of the bear markets. Take a look at the graphic above. It shows the distribution of returns from the S&P 500 since 1926. As you can see, the number of positive-return years far outweigh the negative-return years. For the time period from 1926 to 2021, the S&P 500 has been positive 74 percent of the time.

BOTTOM LINE

Fear is a very powerful emotion, but your financial success demands that you maintain a proper perspective in these turbulent financial times. Keeping a clear head and making rational decisions based on the long term will position you to succeed. Don’t let the news headlines of the day cause you to make poor decisions that could impact years of your life. A good financial advisor can help you maintain proper perspective during difficult times. You don’t need an advisor who is going to give you cliché answers like, “Don’t worry, it’ll come back,” or “You’re in this for the long haul.” Those statements may be true much of the time – but what you need is an advisor who has given you alternative investment techniques that can significantly mitigate market losses. You need an advisor who counsels you based on research and facts, not based on cliché phrases and empty rhetoric to keep you from pursuing better investment strategies. It never hurts to get a second opinion on your investment portfolio. A fresh perspective just might put you on a better path to success.

Randy Yeisley is a local, independent investment advisor and is the founder and president of Yeisley Financial Group, Inc., located in northeast Wichita. He can be reached by emailing advisor@yeisleyfinancial.com or by calling 316.719.2900.

Written by Randy Yeisley | Yeisley Financial Group

A name you can trust

Written by Amy Palser

Lifetime Addict Makes Change for Good

Drugs were a lifetime affair for Ray Hinderliter of Newton. The son of a U.S. Army drill sergeant started using marijuana at age 7, began shooting intravenous drugs at age 12 and spent a total of 28 years inside the walls of prisons. But though he was a slave to substances for the majority of his 58 years, he is a slave no more. In November, Ray celebrated five years of sobriety – a journey he started on his 53rd birthday when he took one last hit and then checked himself into Center for Change in Wichita. It was his 20th inpatient drug treatment, and, he says, it will be his last. “This is the longest I’ve ever been clean in my whole life,” he said. “It’s really such a good feeling inside to be clean and to want to be clean. Once you start in the (Center for Change) program, it makes you want to change your life. I didn’t want to be the only one without a job, a car – it made me want to make all these changes.”

The biggest change of all was his decision to follow Christ. After moving to Newton to get away from his dangerous lifestyle and friends, Ray decided to step through the doors of The Gathering, a church in an old theater on the town’s main street. “When I started at church I was really uncomfortable. Still, for some reason I felt welcome there,” he said, noting that he stood out from the crowd with headto-toe tattoos. “I started going every week. I started praying. I started doing Bible studies on self worth. Then I figured out I was a little bitty abused child and that’s probably where my addiction started. My dad was a very, very mean guy.”

church, I found out I’m a child of God; that’s how I was born. I wasn’t made to be an addict and be in jail. I was not made to do that. Nobody is.”

Ray said participating in Center for Change’s methadoneassisted program was instrumental in his recovery. It helped curb his cravings and was the first time he had success in a treatment program. “I did treatment so many times through the Department of Corrections, I knew it backwards and forwards. As a matter of fact, they’d have me go up and teach it.” Yet as soon as he was out on parole, he immediately started using again.

Today, Ray says he loves being clean more than he ever loved drugs. “I can’t believe I would ever say I like something more than being high,” he said. “I take my ex-old lady’s kids to church with me. When they’re singing, raising their hands, it makes me bawl like a baby. That gets me way higher than any drug ever has. It’s pretty amazing. God can do some things people don’t think he can do.”

Ray was baptized and recently shared his testimony at church. He was afraid the other churchgoers would shun him once they realized the man who had been sitting in church every Sunday was a former heroin junkie who stole from his friends and spent half his life in prison. But instead, people kept coming up to him and asking him to share his story with addicts they knew – a daughter, a grandson, a close friend. Now, he wants to share his story with whoever will listen. “If I keep sharing my story, I believe it will help keep me clean and maybe help some other people. They say that if you’re an addict, that’s how you were born. After I started going to

Center for Change Ray Hinderliter poses with Autumn and Alaina, his ex-girlfriend’s daughters, at church.

Ray Hinderliter worships during a church service.

Celebrating 120 Years

Congratulations, J.P. Weigand

In 1902, Wichita was newly established with a population of 25,000 and a territory covering only seven miles when J.P. Weigand traveled as a Rand McNally map salesman by covered wagon from Mt. Sterling, Illinois, to Wichita. Immediately seeing Wichita as a town of endless opportunities, J.P. subleased desk space in a storeroom on North Market and began selling homes. By 1910, the population reached 55,000 and the demand for homes exploded as Wichita grew with the times.

J.P. Weigand sold Wichita real estate for 48 years and firmly believed that for salespeople to be successful, they must have faith in what they are selling. When J.P. died in 1950, his obituary described him as a man who had “abiding faith in the future of the city and a faith founded upon a thorough knowledge of what constitutes real values, present and future.” J.P.’s beliefs and vision continued to provide a steadfast foundation for J.P. Weigand & Sons, and this year the company celebrated its 120th year as a third-generation business serving Wichita and nearby communities. Most recently, the company’s celebration held at Botanica included company members and agents, and honored customers, clients, vendors and families. The highlight of the event included the unveiling of

the Keeper of the Plains statue, which is soon to be installed in front of company headquarters, still located downtown on Market Street.

The Weigand family now consists of 265 individuals, including 35 employees and 230 agents and brokers, and J.P. Weigand & Sons has offices in Belle Plaine, Derby, Newton, Hutchinson and McPherson. Staff recognition is a top priority and company recognition events include Residential Honors Night, Commercial Kickoff and High Five Club, an event that expressly honors the top producing agents each quarter for residential sales. Each year, the company shows its steadfast loyalty to the Wichita community through donations and by participating in over 15 charity events, including hosting the Weigand Cares Charity Golf Classic where all proceeds go to local charities.

J.P. Weigand set ”The Standard for Excellence” in Wichita’s real estate industry and that vision and the company’s mission remains much the same today – to deliver excellence

Written by Julie Underwood Burton

Kevin Dreiling and wife Tracey at the company’s recent 120th anniversary celebration at Botanica

The company’s old building at Market & 1st in Wichita

to their customers and clients in all areas of their real estate transactions. According to published rankings by Real Trends of the top 500 companies in the U.S., for the past 28 years, J.P. Weigand & Sons has been ranked as the No. 1 agency in Wichita and has also been ranked in the top spot consistently by the Wichita Business Journal.

Passing the Weigand Leadership Torch

Meet Kevin Dreiling

This past October, Kevin Dreiling, a well-known leader in Wichita’s real estate community, was asked to lead J.P. Weigand & Sons into the future as their next president. Dreiling brings over 25 years of senior leadership experience in real estate, including commercial and residential real estate transactions, and previously worked for J.P. Weigand as an agent.

When asked about his recent decision, Dreiling said, “Something told me it was the right time, the right moment, and the right situation to return to J.P. Weigand. I was honored to be contacted by Nestor R. Weigand, Jr., and I am honored to be selected. I believe I know the traditions of the company, the integrity that the company has and the values they believe in. I can’t wait to get moving forward as quickly as I can to learn the various parts of the business and do whatever I can to make Weigand a little stronger, a little better every day.”

One of Dreiling’s goals moving forward is to concentrate on having the most well trained agents and support staff. Staff longevity has certainly been key to Weigand’s success over the years. To date, they have 39 agents who have been with the company over 20 years. Leisa Lowry, a 27-year commercial division veteran says, “I have stayed because of the agents and ownership. It is honestly the best place to be associated with for my business.”

Christi Royse, a commercial agent for 20 years, says, “I am proud to be a part of such a wonderful company with a strong place in Wichita’s history. It’s the people who make Weigand the great company that it is. The amount of knowledge and experience at Weigand is unparalleled.”

JP Weigand recently unveiled a Keeper of the Plains statue that will be installed in front of company headquarters on Market Street in downtown Wichita

To learn more about J.P. Weigand & Sons’ services or to find an office and agent near you, call 316.292.3991 or go to weigand.com.

Where To Find Them

J.P. Weigand & Sons, Inc. Main office: 150 N. Market · Wichita, KS 67202 316.292.3991 · weigand.com

Congratulations to Kevin Dreiling and J.P. Weigand & Sons. Wichita’s citizens are quite fortunate to be guided by a real estate company with such a rich legacy and continued strong leadership.

By Nataliya Biskup, MD, Amy Sprole, MD, and Joseph Spaniol, MD Nousette Jefferson Photography | Instagram: @njeffphoto

Life-Changing Vein Treatments at PSC Vein Care

Varicose veins can be both a cosmetic and medical issue requiring attention. At PSC Vein Care at the Plastic Surgery Center, we can help patients with both problems. Our experienced staff can treat spider veins, varicose veins, and heavy, swollen legs. We use vein mapping for our patients to evaluate their veins and create a treatment plan.

Age, heredity, leg injuries, pregnancy, hormonal changes, or prolonged sitting or standing can cause vein problems for people of all ages. Patients might notice vein problems through several symptoms, including heavy legs, leg pain, bulging veins, swelling, restless leg syndrome, discoloration or ulcers.

Venous insufficiency causes most vein problems: The veins dilate, widen and stretch, making it difficult for them to carry blood back to the heart. Venous insufficiency is a disease that creates increased pressure in the legs, leading to swelling, pain, ulcers and changes in skin color.

We find that many patients have spider veins, which aren’t harmful, but most people don’t like how these clusters of small veins look. Others come to us with varicose veins, which make the legs feel heavy, tired, or full because blood is pooling and not flowing in the right direction.

Vein treatment options include the following:

• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) uses heat to close the saphenous veins that contribute to varicose veins in the legs. It’s a clinically proven, minimally invasive procedure that treats superficial varicose veins and chronic insufficiency with little or no discomfort or downtime.

• With sclerotherapy, we inject your veins with a solution that causes your blood vessels to close and dissolve. Sclerotherapy is the primary treatment option for spider veins.

• Phlebectomy involves removing medium to large varicose veins through tiny skin punctures that don’t require stitches. This procedure is minimally invasive and is often used for veins we can’t treat with sclerotherapy.

If you’re interested in discussing your vein treatment options, your first step is a consultation with one of our vein specialists. Call 316.688.7500 to schedule your appointment.

Real Patients. Real Results.

Our patient, Jason, says he noticed his results right away. Explain your journey to radiofrequency ablation of your great saphenous vein.

Jason: I have a family history of spider and varicose veins. I also had two ACL surgeries on my leg, which I suspect contributed to my issues. For several years my leg has gotten worse – it hurt, was swollen and itchy, and I had a rash. I scratched it, and it had started to bleed and scar. Thankfully, I heard about the free vein screening and went to see what PSC Vein Care could do to help me.

How did you feel after the treatment?

Jason: I was very nervous about the pain, but the treatment didn’t hurt. Everyone was fabulous, and I’d do it again. Afterward, it wasn’t too painful, and I returned to my normal activities. I also wore compression stockings and that made it feel better.

When did you notice a change?

Jason: I noticed a difference immediately because the swelling was gone. The itching and rash have subsided quite a bit, too. Are you happy with your results?

Jason: Yes. My leg looks and feels much better. I don’t feel so self-conscious about it anymore. Before my vein treatment, my leg looked like there was a tight rubber band on it, and it was turning purple. I didn’t realize how much it hurt until after the treatment, when the pain disappeared. This treatment got the central vein, and now I am going to return for some sclerotherapy to get rid of the little offshoots. I am excited about my final results.

Do you have advice for people considering radiofrequency ablation?

Jason: It’s a super easy treatment, and it doesn’t hurt. So just go get it done, because it will definitely help you.

Before After

You deserve expert guidance and exceptional results. Plastic surgery involves many choices. The most important is selecting a surgeon you can trust. Expect exceptional results when you have your plastic surgery performed by the highly skilled plastic surgeons at the Plastic Surgery Center.

A. I am a Kansas native and spent most of my youth living in the country outside of a small oil community in the Flint Hills. My maternal grandparents were a strong influence in my life, and my earliest memory of my interest in cardiovascular pathophysiology was as a young girl tracing the veins on the back of my grandmother’s hands, imagining how they worked. During my high school years, I became a certified nurse assistant and worked with my small-town nursing home residents; there I discovered my drive to serve others in health matters.

I came to the Wichita area in 2000 after graduating from The University of Kansas with my Bachelors of Science in Nursing, and worked on a surgical telemetry unit in a local hospital. There I worked alongside the cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and their support staff, a passionate and inspiring group. My career path led me to work in the office of a cardiothoracic surgery group, serving cardiovascular patients pre and post open heart surgeries, and observing firsthand the navigation of patients through a critical health experience.

I returned to my academic career here in Wichita at Wichita State University, earning my Master of Science in Nursing in 2013. I spent a couple years in a primary-care setting and value the breadth of knowledge I gained. I feel fortunate my journey eventually led me to my current role. Wichita is rich in high quality cardiovascular care, and it is an honor to serve the area in this group.

Q. Tell us about your current practice. What physicians do you work closely with?

A. Cardiovascular Care, PA is my current practice. I started working with Dr. Hossein Amirani seven years ago, expanding and deepening my knowledge base of the complexities of cardiovascular medicine. Dr. Amirani is a pillar of cardiology care in Wichita; for more than two

Q.

decades he’s been at the bedside of countless people, guiding them through the critical experience of heart emergencies. I also have the privilege of collaborating with Dr. Freddy Eid, Dr. Gaurav Tyagi, Dr. Randee Lipman, and Dr. Christos Mandanis. Our practice has offices based in Wichita at 925 N. Hillside and in Newton at 715 Medical Center Drive. Our practice is fortunate to have seven nurse practitioners in the inpatient and outpatient settings, ensuring high quality medical care for our patients, and many invaluable support staff in our office locations.

What are your best tips for early detection of heart disease?

A. The first is a marked change in stamina. If, in a relatively short time span, you find yourself reduced in the physically demanding activities you can engage in, talk to your medical provider about it. If you experience new or worsening shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue or palpitations, make sure you are talking about it at your doctor visits or seeking urgent care. Valid screening tools like the cardiac CT calcium score exist now, and they are inexpensive, highly accurate and reliable in detecting early cholesterol buildup and plaque in the walls of heart arteries. Primary care clinicians can order cardiac calcium scores; if you have a first-line relative with coronary artery disease talk to your doctor about getting a scan.

Q. Why do you support the American Heart Association?

A. The American Heart Association is an esteemed organization with a long history of seeking and supporting the greatest good for cardiovascular health. It is a valuable neutral party serving population health, funding vital scientific research, and distributing knowledge to the people of the community. It is a privilege to serve on the AHA board and impact the health of the community at a population level.

Alex Melugin’s Healthcare Highlight

Alex

Market President

Phoenix Home Care

Hospice

Q. Where did you grow up, and what led you to stay in Wichita?

With Beckie Wernli APRN-C Cardiovascular Care, PA

HOPEART 2022 TO BENEFIT HOPENET

Cozine Life Events Center

Cozine Life Events Center hosted HopeArt 2022: Teeny Tiny Art for a Great Big Cause, showcasing small artwork from many talented artists. It featured work from Melanie Cloud, Sontia Mason, and Gavin Peters depicting HopeNet clients’ mental health journey. This art gallery and fundraiser was in support of HopeNet, a local nonprofit providing affordable mental health services. To learn more, visit hopenetwichita.org.

Hadley, Hillard, Carolyn and Elsa Cozine

Kim Adams, Julie Dixon and Crystal Aluko

George and Pam Bruce, Allison and Stacy Peterson

George and Nikki Hansson, Gil and Julie Trout, Michael and Lisa Caughlin

Brian and Karis Gensch, Ashley and Stephen Granberry, Greta and Andy Biggs

HopeNet event committee

Rodger and Tamara Woods, Devona and Charles Troutman

Tom and Debi Davis, Greg and Brenda Williams

HopeNet staff

Jayme Dorr, Anne Allen, Paul Davis, Sally Rogers, Jo Lynn Bright

The Berry family

A Season of Good Tidings

No Matter How You Celebrate, From Our Family to Yours, Happy Holidays

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas employs a diverse group of moms, dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, neighbors, friends, and volunteers. We’re a family of more than 1,600 unique individuals who come from many different parts of the world and represent every corner of Kansas. Together, we are Kansans serving nearly 1 million Kansans from a variety of faiths and traditions that mark special days at many different times.

There is no question that culture, heritage and religion define us as people. Various influences include faith, culture, education and overall experience. And religious holidays are the expression of those values.

At Blue Cross, we take time to recognize and celebrate the many different holidays this time of year – Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Las Posadas to name a few – because it’s important to us. We take time to share the history and meaning behind each holiday with our employees, encouraging acceptance and respect of others’ traditions.

Christmas – A Christian holiday honoring the birth of Jesus, which has evolved into a worldwide religious and secular celebration, incorporating many pre-Christian and pagan traditions into the festivities.

Diwali – Every year around October and November, Hindus around the world celebrate this festival of lights stretching back more than 2,500 years and is about the triumph of good over evil.

Hanukkah – For eight days each November or December, Jews light candles in a special holder called a menorah. They do it to remember an ancient miracle in which one day’s worth of oil burned for eight days in the temple.

Kwanzaa – Primarily celebrated in the African-American community, Kwanzaa combines aspects of several different harvest celebrations to form the basis of the week-long holiday in December and January.

Las Posadas – A Christmas festival largely celebrated by Mexican and Hispanic communities in the United States, for nine nights in December people dress as Mary and Joseph reenacting the couple’s pilgrimage before Jesus’s birth in a manger in Bethlehem.

We want employees to feel like they belong here – seen, heard and respected for the unique individuals they are. To make it a reality, it is important that we foster openmindedness, inclusivity and diversity, and celebrate our differences, as well as common interests, to unite and educate. We want our members to feel valued as part of our Blue Cross family. That feeling cannot be shared to members without understanding the perspectives of others and broadening our own.

We celebrate each of you this season, as you come together with the ones you love to celebrate your faith and traditions. Even if you don’t celebrate, know that we’re thinking of you. Wishing you the happiest of holidays!

An independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF WICHITA’S

HOLIDAY GALLERIA

Century II Convention Center

Holiday Galleria Sustainers

Francie Foster, Rita Reiser, Sarah Oenning, Jennifer Wentzel

Fidelity Bank crew

Cassie Wilson, Rachel Hackbarth

Lily Wu, Cindy Carnahan, Bonnie Bing Honeyman

Cindy Hand, Alyssa Scott, Dawn Tucker, Stephanie McCurdy, Michelle Hunt

Gaylene Alderson, Jill Ramsey, Brenda Johnson, Leslie Wessel

Darcy Wilhite, Veronica Seberger, Jill Ward, Renee Pack

Renee Pack, Mimi Wakim, Renee and Kristi Clark

Angela Pirner, Sierra Scott, Jody Klein, Pat Thompson, Toni Porter, Lindsey Hall, Ami Schlader

Junior League members

‘Hidden Gem on the Prairie’

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Allen House

Written by John Huthmacher

The last house built in the Prairie School style more than a century ago by world renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright still stands tall among neighboring homes on an upscale Wichita residential street. Executive director Amy Reep calls the historic showcase house “a hidden gem on the prairie” –the perfect place for our December fashion shoot to show off holiday styles both cozy and glam.

Completed in 1918, the 5,000-square-foot residence located at 255 Roosevelt Street was commissioned by Gov. Henry Allen and his wife, Elsie, and was regarded by Wright himself as one of his crowning achievements among his more than 1,000 design projects (of which just over 700 were actually built) that included houses, churches, synagogues, office buildings, gas stations and even a skyscraper.

“If you had a vision, he would make it come to life,” Reep said. “He’d create the whole package for you if you had the means to allow him to do that.”

Today, the home is open to lovers of architecture and aesthetic beauty, a tangible testament to the genius of Wright, whom many consider the most prominent architect of the 20th century.

That the Allen House is revered as one of his finest displays of architecture is not lost on the estimated 6,000 people from around the globe who visit the historic structure each year. With its popularity fanned by the current media-driven home renovation frenzy, the innovative house is frequented by designers, architects, realtors and others looking for creative ways to beautify their abodes.

“People who are building houses are constantly coming through and asking questions,” Reep said. “They want to know about

the woodwork, furniture designs and paint colors. We hope we’re inspiring them to take these design ideas and go off and create their own beautiful environments to live in.”

Restored in part by Reep’s father, Howard Ellington, a nowretired Wichita architect who served on the house board, the home opened to visitors in 1990 and is one of only 72 Frank Lloyd Wright homes available for public viewing.

“It is probably the most complete design he did, as we have 98 percent of the original furniture in the house,” Reep said. “All our original art glass (stained glass) is intact.”

Timeless features in the home include its open floor plan and the security, air and vacuum systems. A team of 12 master gardeners tend to the elaborate gardens each Monday in the courtyard and around the home.

“He was a genius in his own right,” Reep said. “When people come to the house, it just draws them in. You have to experience the architecture in order to appreciate it.”

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Allen House is open for public tours at 10 a.m. each Wednesday; 1 p.m. Thursday; and 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Private tours are available by appointment. Special Holiday Moonlight guided tours are offered at 7 p.m. Thursdays through Dec. 29 and include a wine and dessert reception. Holiday decorations will remain on display through the end of the year.

For information or reservations, call 316-687-1027.

A. My name is Allison Baker, and I am the owner of Aspen Boutique and The Vault Collection, both located at Oliver and Douglas. I moved back to Wichita in March of 2019 after living out of state for 28 years. I purchased the long-standing Wichita women’s clothing store, Aspen Boutique, in April 2021, and then opened an estate furniture and home furnishings store, The Vault Collection, five months later.

With Allison Baker

A. I am happy to say that things are going really well! We have new people discovering the store daily and have already built up a strong following of local customers who are enjoying our curated collection of estate home furniture and furnishings. Customers often comment in the store that they feel like they are in a museum, which makes sense considering we carry styles including mid-century, Victorian, art deco, art nouveau, etc.

A. The Vault Collection is known primarily for our unique, curated furniture collection that includes items that are anything but ordinary. We have a variety of seating options as well as tables ranging in size, an occasional couch, and a wide selection of lamps. We also have a lot of vintage barware, such as decanters, glassware, sterling silver decanter labels, as well as a number of collectible items including Murano glass paperweights and vintage British silverware. We are also known for rare-find specialty estate items such as Cartier and Tiffany & Co. sterling silver.

carriers, a pet carrier, travel bags and handbags. We also have a fireplace-tending set that came from the estate of American comedian and actor Don Rickles. This unusual set is hard to miss! We also have a truly special Frank Lloyd Wright table as well as some stained glass items in his style. The fine jewelry collection that is part of The Vault Collection is actually housed at Aspen Boutique. We have over 300 pieces of stunning, unique and sparkling pieces of jewelry acquired from estate sales. It is impossible not to find a piece that speaks to your style and budget.

Q. What’s your favorite season as a shop owner?

A. The Christmas holiday season is my favorite given the spirit of the holiday and the buzz in the store. We have such a fun time assisting people with their gift selection for their family and friends. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a customer’s smile when we hand them a beautifully giftwrapped present

Q. Do you have any tips for holiday shoppers this year?

A. You can never start too early! We have customers in the store as early as September to purchase Christmas gifts. The timing of your holiday shopping directly correlates to the selection you will have to choose from, so start early. Aspen Boutique also has an extended holiday return policy through the end of January, so those who do shop early don’t have to worry about the typical 30-day return policy.

For more store information, visit these websites: shopthevaultcollection.com and shopaspenboutique.com.

A. According to our customers, it has to be our Louis Vuitton collection of vintage items, which includes two steamer trunks from the early 1900s, as well as a couple of wine

Owner, Aspen Boutique and The Vault Collection

Q. First off, can you share a bit of background about yourself?

Q. It has been just over a year since The Vault Collection opened in Lincoln Heights Village. How is the new business doing?

Q. Can you talk about the kind of items that are available for sale in The Vault Collection?

Q. What is the most notable piece in your collection?

Written by Alexis Evans

GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION

ICT IV Hydration

ICT IV Hydration, Wichita’s premier hydration experts, hosted a grand opening and ribbon cutting event to celebrate their new Delano store front. In addition to their in-home hydration and vitamin IV services, clients may utilize the space for drop-in visits, facial aesthetics and body contouring. The space also features a local vendor area and will dual as a small event venue. For more information visit ictivhydration.com or @ICT.IV on social media.

Hope Fitzgibbons, Meghan Graham, Shaunna Cardinell, Camille Brashears

Lindsay Jones, Jasmine Douangpraseuth, Kristina Johnson, Kayla Brumley

Ribbon cutting

Karl Lakin, Kiki Willis

Izan, Ty and Tania Holmes

Meghan Graham, Corey Conyers and Melissa Wilcox

Shreya Bhakta, Maya, Chris and Hudson Zachary

Kristi Clark and Danny Ivy

Lashawna Bale, Maddux, Brynnley and Marcus Baugh

Meghan Graham, Jessica Welch, Jasmine Douangpraseuth, Jennie Cook

Justis, Sophia and Jasmine Douangpraseuth with Andrew and Ethan Herd

BOOK SIGNING WITH TIM GRUNHARD

Walt’s

Tim Grunhard with William and Theresa Ash

Tim Grunhard with Henry and Michael Harris

Larry Doss, Heather Westfall, Judy Doss, Tim and Sarah Grunhard

Tim Grunhard and Joseph Chang

Tim Grunhard with Larry Harmon and William Ash

Tim Grunhard with Julie Burton and Marty Lee

Tim Grunhard with Aaron Vierthaler and Christian Newell

Tim Grunhard and Lucien Drummond

Tim Grunhard with Amber Elliott and Shaun Junkins

Tim Grunhard with Kansas City Chiefs fans

Tim Grunhard and Darin Hayes

Walter’s Pumpkin Patch

Sharon and Rob Hunter with Tanner and Kimber

Pam, Gregory, Brody and Gracie Rodriguiz

Lucas, James, Heather and Matt Wellner

Jennifer, Steve and Jeremy Pazzie

Robin, Chad, Hayley and Riley Chesnick

Debi Devor-Mullins, Makenzi Schnitker, Dennis Mullins

Emmit, Ericson, Tricia, Easton and Eric Brown

Joann, Lane, Jersey, Bailey, Preston, Jordy and Natalie Bevins

Kara, Caleb and Ellie Haagenstad

Dane, Elena, Renee and Serena Stark

Alan and Susan Schnieder with Malia and Karen

Fred and Jamie Britain

3049 N Rock Rd

Wine and Spirits With the Good Life Guy

Red Wines of Argentina

Perfect for the Holidays

Global wine-growing regions are usually very attractive, with good soil, great sunlight, good climate and ample water. If ever there was a perfect region it just may be Mendoza, Argentina! Blue skies, diverse alluvial soils and fresh snowmelt from the Andes Mountains, combined with expert winemaking is the nexus of viticulture perfection.

Argentina, the eighth largest country in the world, offers a stunning diversity of terroirs and unparalleled natural beauty. It stretches 2,362 miles north to south, from Central South America to the far tip of Patagonia. The primary wine-growing regions are in the Northwest Central area of the country; the most prolific and popular region is of course Mendoza in Cuyo Provence.

Argentina is the fifth-largest wine producer in the world after Italy, France, Spain and the USA. The main producing region is the province of Mendoza, producing more than 80 percent of the nation’s wine production, centered in this desert region located almost directly across the Andes Mountains from Santiago, Chile, and about 650 miles due west of Buenos Aires.

The leading grape in Argentina, in terms of reputation and quantity, is malbec, a Bordeaux variety imported to Argentina from France in the mid-19th century. Other red varieties produced in Argentina include cabernet sauvignon, merlot, bonarda (known as charbono in its native Italy), syrah, tempranillo and pinot noir. Among white wines, the Argentinian wine region’s signature grape is torrontés, which yields a floral, tropical-tasting wine. The country also produces chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and pinot grigio.

I chose a few of my favorites from the 2019 vintage, a great year in Mendoza. All of these wines are highly rated – but more importantly they represent great value and big, bold flavors from each varietal. These wines won’t break the bank and are all well

Written by Guy Bower

suited to holiday entertaining. The list of potential food and wine pairings are many. Here are a few of my favorites:

Malbec – Pork and lamb, poultry with dark meat, as well as fattier fish like salmon.

Cabernet Franc – Beef stew, meatballs in tomato sauce, turkey with cranberry, pâté, roast duck or venison.

Cabernet Sauvignon – Prime rib, New York strip and filet mignon. Also try lamb or pepper-crusted ahi tuna. Most all of these would benefit from a rich wine reduction with mushrooms or a creamy herb sauce!

I hope you’ll try some or all of these wines as you enjoy family and friends during the holidays. Cheers to you and yours and may you always enjoy The Good Life.

2019 Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec, $24

Fresh and fragrant nose of lavender, balsamic, plums, thyme, black pepper and sweet black cherries. Nice crunchy graphite texture, with a lovely core of fruit concentration supported by lively acidity. It’s full-bodied with round, ripe tannins and a creamy texture. Seamless and caressing with a long, polished finish.

ABV 14%, JS, 93

2019 Catena Appellation San Carlos Cabernet Franc, $25

This cabernet franc is sourced from the family’s historic vineyards in San Carlos. Here, the sandy loam soils and mountainous climate yield a wine with concentrated ripe red berries, a touch of eucalyptus and black pepper, robust tannins and a smooth, lengthy finish.

ABV 13.5% WA, 93

2019 Tapiz Alta Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, $24

A blend of 95% cabernet and 5% merlot grapes from the estate vineyards in San Pablo, a cool, high-altitude place in the Valle de Uco. Aromas and flavors of fresh red and black fruits, with notes of plum jam that provide complexity. The delicate notes of eucalyptus accompany the fruit. The oak provides notes of coffee beans, chocolate and vanilla. Rich with a long finish.

ABV 14.2%, WA 90

For more detailed info about Argentinian wines visit winesofargentina.org.

Wine ratings guide: JS — James Suckling, WA — Wine Advocate

Guy Bower is host of The Good Life radio show airing every Saturday, 12–1 p.m. on 98.7/1330 KNSS, featuring special guests, book reviews and a wine of the week.

The 1 Million Books Challenge Storytime Village Sets Big Goal to Help Children Learn to Read

Written by Amy Palser

Here’s a numbers quiz for you!

Q. How long does it take to count to 1 million?

A. Eleven-and-a-half days! That’s at the rate of one digit per second, not taking any breaks for eating or sleeping.

Q. How long does it take to collect and distribute 1 million books?

A. Storytime Village founder Prisca Barnes is about to find out!

Barnes, who recently brought Shaquille O’Neal to Wichita to promote literacy in underserved children, is on a new mission: She wants to get 1 million books into the hands of soon-to-be kindergarteners across the state of Kansas. But Barnes can’t do it alone – she’s looking to the community for help. “It’s going to take a lot of support, a lot of effort, but we’re not going to give up until we reach the goal,” she said.

Barnes’ very big goal was inspired by Shaq’s very big charge to children who came to see him during the Hoops 4 Literacy event at Koch Arena in September. “He had all the kids stand up and repeat after him: ‘I will believe in my dreams. I will become whatever I want to become,’ ” she said. “We want to take that a step further and challenge the adult community to help these children fulfill these goals, help them to fulfill those dreams and become whatever they want to be by supporting them in their early literacy journey.”

The campaign kicked off on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 29, and Barnes said it will continue until they reach their goal, however long that takes. Storytime Village is busy distributing promotional materials about the campaign and sharing data that shows the need. They’ll be asking community partners to give a one-time gift or pledge a recurring donation. “Once we have the resources to get the books, we’ll engage the communities in the distribution of the books and keep the community engaged in what’s happening,” she said.

With headquarters in Wichita, Storytime Village serves children in Wichita, Topeka, Junction City, Kansas City (Kansas) and Lawrence. They plan to distribute the books through community events and through partnerships with organizations that can help identify families in their target demographic – organizations like public and private schools and outreach programs.

They also hope that as distribution of the books begins, community members will step up in other ways, like volunteering to read to kids in their communities, or volunteering at the school their child or grandchild attends, or finding ways to support their neighborhood school. “It’s not just a monetary challenge,” Barnes said. “It’s a call to action to be engaged in the lives of our early learners.

“We’re calling for the community to say, ‘I will be the village to help them achieve their goals.’ ”

To learn more or to help with the 1 Million Books Challenge, visit storytimevillage.org.

Prisca Barnes

Fresh on the Scene

SPLURGE!

Welcomes New Businesses and Happenings to Wichita

Tor Brewing

When he ventured out on his own as Wichita’s latest craft brewer, Aaron Perryhill was supported by an entire network of brewmasters who are quick to share a cup of hops. And that included his old boss, Dan Norton of Nortons Brewing Company. “All the breweries in town are really friendly,” Perryhill says. “If anyone needs help, we usually give them advice or ingredients … it’s a very close community and great to be part of.”

Tor Brewing launched November 19 at 222 S. Commerce on the east side of Intrust Bank Arena. Perryhill says that – although not technically part of the Commerce Street Art District – he plans to be active in the scene.

“As a local business, we want to be part of First Friday and display a lot of the cool artists around town.”

Tor Brewing opened with a variety of collab beers, created in partnership with other breweries, including an IPA, a pale ale and a kvik ale, made with a Nordic yeast strain. The brewery’s name originates from the word “tor,” which means “hill” in Old English. Formerly Aaron Hill, the brewer changed his last name when he married Sophia Perry earlier this year and the couple blended their last names.

Looking to the future, Perryhill says, “Phase two is getting the kitchen open. We’d like to be an incubator kitchen for an upcoming chef who wants to do their own thing. We’re starting out small. We’re all friends and family and then growing it from there, slowly and sustainably.”

Tor Brewing hours are Tuesday–Thursday 3–9 p.m., Friday 3–11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Photography by Michael Carroll Jr.

Written by Karen Long

Graze Craze

Charcuterie has become an art form and Graze Craze, one of the newest businesses in town, is its Michelangelo, sculpting alluring arrangements of cheeses, specialty cured meats, breads and crackers, and locally sourced fruits and veggies.

Kansas natives Kip and Kristy Hawkins are the first to bring the Graze Craze franchise to the region. In October they opened their west location near 21st and Ridge Road, with another to follow soon at 21st and Webb Road. The hand-crafted charcuterie boards and boxes feature customizable selections of farm-fresh ingredients, from goat cheese and peppered salami to rustic seed bread and dessert macaroons.

The Graze Craze menu details seasonal offerings such as the Fall Board and the Game Day Board. There are selections for special diets like The Grazey for Keto board and the Vegegrazian, plus gluten-free options as well.

The pickle box has been a huge seller, according to Kip Hawkins. “We create our own brine and add more than just pickles, including cucumbers, carrots, peppers and fresh dill. We also include olives and pickled okra.” Another house specialty is the sauces, dips and jams, including lemon dill mayo, cottage cheese dill dip, and several types of hummus.

Sizes range from a single-serving Char”Cutie”Cup to an overflowing board that feeds 10 or more. Catering and free delivery are available.

“We love to graze and have been doing it for years,” says Hawkins. “We are very involved in Wichita, and we received feedback from our community that they would enjoy having Graze Craze as an option for meetings, parties, special events and gatherings, as well as everyday meals.”

To place an order go to grazecraze.com, call 316.867.6401 or drop by their location at 2233 N. Ridge Road. If ordering a large board please allow 45 minutes for preparation.

Keto On with Kerri

For Kerri Garcia, providing low carb, sugar-free and keto-friendly meal options is personal. Garcia was an overweight dental hygienist, pre-diabetic with rising blood pressure and cholesterol. Then she started noticing that many of her patients were getting healthy, dropping medications and looking younger. When she started asking questions, she found the majority had switched to a ketogenic lifestyle. After much research, Garcia did the same, dropped 50 pounds and was taken off the pre-diabetic list, among many other health benefits.

Three years later Garcia opened Keto On with Kerri in Derby, a brick-and-mortar storefront for her wide variety of individual heat-and-eat meals and take-andbake casseroles.

“We want our customers to have a safe place that is truly low carb and gluten free with no added sugars,” says Garcia. “We research every product we put on our shelves for accuracy and test them for ketogenic levels, as well as insulinresponse levels.”

The meals are also diabetic-friendly, wheat free – and delicious.

“The food we fuel our body with should be enjoyable,” says Garcia. “We have seen many customers have special moments eating our food at the register. That is the biggest joy ever.” Garcia and her team have perfected a gluten-free, low carb dough, a staple ingredient in some of their most popular items, including several flavors of bierocks and pot pies.

Check out the Keto On with Kerri website and Facebook page every Wednesday to see the meal options available for order that week. They also partner with Perfect Plate in Maize and Lori’s EmporiYum in Augusta; you can order ahead and pick up at either of those locations.

“This lifestyle is not a fad diet anymore,” says Garcia, “but a necessity for people to take control of their weight and health.”

Keto On with Kerri has an indoor dining space and currently offers one lunch special daily during the week. For more information visit ketoonwithkerri.com or find Keto On with Kerri on Facebook.

Photography by Michael Carroll Jr.

Photos courtesy of Graze Craze

OPEN HOUSE

iCRYO

Tane and Robert Jiminez

iCRYO staff

Brennon Turner, Karsten Blyseth

David Brandt, Lauren Morris

Loren and Deidra Vanderheiden

Kim Azaria and Alan Nelson, Matt and Rachel Magnuson

Travis and Chris Nichols

Drew Kemp, Bryson Hayes

Fred Magnuson, Julie Robinson, Linda Magnuson

Shanea Thomas, Shari Williams

Jessica Staten with Acey, Erin, Ayin and Avery Richardson

Collin, Payton and Dustin Hobkirk

Holiday Happenings

10 Family Friendly Holiday Celebrations In and Around Wichita

Written by Lauren Boughfman

Jingle those bells! In search of some fun activities for the holidays? We’ve got you covered! Here are 10 local holiday celebrations and activities to be enjoyed by you and your family this season.

Illuminations at Botanica

701 Amidon St. Every day through Jan. 1

One of Wichita’s premier light displays with over 2 million lights on display every year. Tickets must be purchased at botanica.org.

Holiday Stroll

Bradley Fair

2000 N. Rock Road Sundays, Dec. 4, 11, 18

Visit Bradley Fair this holiday season for entertainment for the whole family. Check out bradleyfair.com for a detailed list of activities.

Prairie Pines Christmas Tree Farm

4055 N. Tyler, Maize Daily through Dec. 21

The farm offers free tractor and horse-drawn hayrides, taking families to pick out the perfect Christmas tree! Check out their website at prairiepines.com for a list of upcoming events.

Safari of Lights

Tanganyika Wildlife Park 1000 S. Hawkins Lane, Goddard Daily through Jan. 2

Load up the car and visit Tanganyika for a drive-through holiday light show. Visit their website at twpark.com to view rates!

Arctic Adventure Exploration Place 300 N. McLean Blvd. Daily through Jan. 8

This season Exploration Place is hosting a variety of virtual holidaythemed games and hands-on fun for the whole family within their new exhibit, the Arctic Adventure. For more information visit their website at exploration.org.

A Country Christmas

Fulton Valley Farms

5079 S.W. Fulton Road, Towanda Thurs.–Sun. through Dec. 19

Stroll through the woods and enjoy over 800,000 holiday lights, a live nativity scene, and maybe even a special visit from Santa and his reindeer. For pricing and more information, visit fultonvalleyfarms.com.

Holly Jolly Jurassic Holiday Field Station: Dinosaurs 2999 N. Rock Road, Derby Daily through Dec. 31

A one-of-a-kind experience where you can enjoy holiday-themed dinosaur attractions as well as many other family friendly games and activities. For more information, visit kansasdinos.com.

Lights at AbilityPoint (The Arc) 2919 W. 2nd St. N. (entrance from Douglas and St. Paul Street) Daily through Dec. 28

Enjoy a holiday light tour of over a million lights including a tunnel of lights – a 20-year tradition! For rates and more information visit abilitypoint.org.

Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center

225 W. Douglas Ave, Wichita

The holiday season is the perfect time to catch a show. Lucky for you, there are a ton of performances to celebrate the season including The Nutcracker, Christmas Fantasies by the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and many, many more. For a full list of events, visit century2.org.

Holiday Season at the Market

835 E. 1st St.

Farm & Art Plaza, Wichita Saturdays, Dec. 3, 10, 17

The Old Town Farm and Art Market is a 30-year tradition here in Wichita, serving food, arts, entertainment, shopping and much more. For more details, visit oldtownfarmandartmarket.com.

Illuminations at Botanica

ANNABELLE’S 18TH BIRTHDAY AND

Home of Peter and Kym Ratcliffe

Annabelle Ratcliffe, Ethan Jia

Adult Halloween party crew

Penelope and Annabelle Ratcliffe

Ripley Cole, Annabelle Ratcliffe, Desmond McDonald, Charlie Osburn

Isaac Combs, Grayson Jensen

Aubrey Hopper, Kamy MacBeth, Annabelle Ratcliffe, Laine Windish, Sophie Ramsey

Peter and Annabelle Ratcliffe, Sharon Isaacs-Pullins and Jeff Pullins

Sonia Richardet, Nura Farahnakian, Sophie Agna

Izzy O’Donnell, Olivia Ablah, Sofia Aguiniga

Kylee Parsons, Gillian Skelton

Peter, Kym and Mike Ratcliffe

Ethan Jia, Karlo Skvor, Gabby Arias

EAGLE SCOUTS IN ACTION

Eagle Scout Class of 1983

Dr. Lance Parker’s journey to Eagle Scout status is a testament to the influence of parents in a Scout’s career. “I make it very clear to anyone who asks: My mother was the driving force in keeping me motivated and on course to achieving Eagle Scout,” said Parker, who practices forensic psychology in Wichita with The Parker Group, Inc. “She died in the 1990s; I love her and I attribute her to be the driving motivation to do something that less than 1 percent of individuals do.”

The young Parker’s Scouting career started in Yokosuka, Japan, where his father was stationed in the U.S. Navy. It provided a different Cub Scout experience, with activities like touring engine rooms and missile houses of destroyers and cruisers and exploring the flight decks of aircraft carriers that were being used in the Vietnam War at the time.

When the family moved to McAlester, Oklahoma, Parker’s Scouting activities centered around Native American culture and heritage, including walking the Trail of Tears. Another move to west Texas brought Scouting adventures like mountain

climbing and spelunking in New Mexico’s Lincoln National Forest. “Scouting will introduce people to cultures, activities and interests they might never have encountered without Scouting,” he said. The lessons learned are immeasurable, but Parker points to three Scouting attributes that have shaped the course of his life: values, confidence and vision.

Those are values upon which he drew when deciding to write a book, the recently published “Twelve Two: How to Transform Your Mind,” which combines his passions for making psychology practical and connecting it with spirituality (available online at Barnes & Noble and Amazon). “Having those values and that confidence and that ability to envision things helped me in my life pursuits. And who would have thought the kid who hated school so much would end up writing a book?”

Family continues to be a motivation and inspiration in Parker’s life, including his beautiful wife, Tish, and his son, Ryan. Ryan, who has Down syndrome, earned a chapter in the book, and Parker has a special message for him: “Ryan, you are the best son ever!”

Quivira Council and Morgan Stanley are proud to bring you Eagle Scouts in Action, a monthly showcase of community leaders who are banding together to make a difference in our community!

If you are interested in joining Scouting or have an Eagle Scout in Action you think deserves honoring, call us at 316.264.3386.

THE FLINT HILLS GROUP AT MORGAN STANLEY

Dr. Lance Parker

The Long Road to Cavalier

Meet Tim Cao, Ballet Wichita Dancer

Written by Karen Long | Photography by Eric Fisher

While dancing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Cavalier and others during this year’s production of “The Nutcracker,” one young dancer will be using lessons gleaned on stages from Wichita to Broadway to Kansas City and back again. Tim Cao, at the age of 19, has built a flourishing career as a dancer, performer and instructor – and he’s already planning his second act.

A Wichita native, Tim’s mother enrolled him in dance lessons at a young age on the advice of a doctor who recommended some kind of musical pursuit for the young boy, who had weakened hearing. It wasn’t long before Tim was performing with Musical Theatre for Young People and then Music Theatre Wichita, where he played Prince Chulalongkorn in “The King and I.” Tim’s mother, Orelle Cao, set her sights on Hollywood, and the two traveled to California every summer during pilot season trying to land a TV role for the budding performer. After a couple of years with no nibbles, Orelle looked to the opposite coast, New York City and the bright lights of Broadway. At age 12, after multiple auditions, Tim was informed that he’d landed a role in “Matilda the Musical.”

“At the time I was probably playing, like, Clash of Clans on my phone,” Tim says. “My mom was talking on the phone and she said, ‘you just landed a Broadway gig!’ We had packed three days worth of clothes and those three days turned into two to three years.”

Tim was cast in a “swing” position where a performer covers multiple roles as needed, in his case Bruce Bogtrotter and Tommy, Bruce’s best friend. Later he added Nigel to his repertoire of characters.

In between Broadway performances, Tim took dance lessons at American Ballet Theatre (ABT), and there the passion for dance started to build. Eventually the family sought out dance instructors in the Midwest who were certified through ABT. Kansas City Ballet fit the bill, and that’s how David Justin, currently artistic director with Ballet Wichita, became Tim’s teacher and mentor.

In 2020, Tim was a senior in high school and in his training year with Kansas City Ballet when Covid brought down the curtain on the performing arts. He took the opportunity to return to his hometown and enrolled at WSU, while eventually performing and teaching with Ballet Wichita. Tim is looking forward to earning a degree in finance and real estate, and next semester he’s going for his real estate license. He plans to work in his family’s businesses, T & T Heating And Air and T & T Home in Goddard.

“I’d like to know more about it so I can support what my family has built, with my dad being an immigrant,” he says. “I have a huge respect for what they’ve done for me and supporting me.”

In this year’s production Tim is playing the butler, Drosselmeyer’s nephew/Nutcracker Prince, and a Russian dancer, in addition to the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Cavalier.

“My personal favorite part about this year’s “Nutcracker” is our strength in male dancers. It is always great to jump and do tricks with fellow male dancers, and I believe it is something that is rare to see.”

Tim’s especially grateful to be performing at all, after a soccer tackle last year left him with a torn ACL. The first person Tim called after receiving the news was David Justin. “And he was really supportive; he had dealt with knee issues as well.”

At the age of 19, Tim has accumulated wealth of wisdom to share with his students at Ballet Wichita: “I slowly realized that dance had prepared me to want to perfect everything. But I still need to work on what dance truly teaches people – to be able to let things go, so you can take on more things. And I think that’s what performing has taught me, being able to just keep going and be a little more humble.”

Ballet Wichita presents

‘The Nutcracker’

This year’s production, led by artistic director David Justin, will feature over 100 dancers from 22 regional dance schools. They will be joined by two solo guest artists from New York City Ballet: Emma Von Enck and Preston Chamblee. Sabrina Vasquez, chair of the dance program at WSU, will play the role of Herr Drosselmeyer.

Guest conductor Steven Byess will lead the Ballet Wichita Orchestra of 33 musicians in a new orchestration of Tchaikovsky’s classic score.

“After a two-year pause,” says Justin, “the company is extremely happy to welcome students back into the theater for our student matinees.”

Century II Concert Hall

Friday, Dec. 16, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 18, 2 p.m.

For more information and tickets visit balletwichita.com.

Traditions of the Season

Customs Old and New Spread Joy and Good Cheer

Written by Julie Hying / Illustrations by @leesy_pie_art

December is a month of memories, celebrations and traditions. Although the new year is just a breath away, this season is a carvedout piece of the year like no other, holding many time-honored traditions as well as newly inspired ways to enjoy the abundance of the season.

Deck the Halls

Our homes embody a unique feel, a warmth in this first glimpse of winter. Seasonal greenery, pine cones and holly berries adorn mantles, cabinets and tabletops to transform rooms with natural beauty. Deep green pines, firs and spruce trees stand tall, another reminder of the world just outside our windows. Within, bursts of color provide a personal imprint and bring the magic of the season to our surroundings. The red and white of peppermints, candy canes and ornaments or shimmering silver or gold accessories add special touches. Various shades of green create depth and a natural pairing with other colorful elements to decorate our homes.

Blessings Shared

Charles Dickens once wrote that December “ … is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices.” This is an opportunity to share the gifts of the season with others. Joyful sharing in the efforts of special groups like the Salvation Army’s Angel Trees or the Marine Toys for Tots endeavors bring the Christmas spirit and a sense of hope to those who may not otherwise receive a gift. Other programs provide meals and a sense of community for folks on their own. An idea for anyone is to keep a blessing bag or two in the vehicle to share with someone in need. Fill a waterproof bag with a warm pair of socks, a hat and gloves. Then add sticks of beef jerky, peanut butter crackers, a bag of chips or popcorn, some lip balm and a ten dollar bill or gift card. Anything that can be enjoyed can be used to create a blessing bag.

Seasonal Songs

’Tis the season to sing a Christmas carol. In the early 13th century, St. Francis of Assisi encouraged others to employ carols as a form of worship to “tell of Christmas joy in song.” Today those traditional songs, along with many others written in the late 1800s as well as the twentieth century, continue to be sung, played on the radio and invigorated by the talents of contemporary artists. The smooth notes of Nat King Cole singing “The Christmas Song” or the talents showcased by The London Symphony Orchestra provide the perfect backdrop for holiday gatherings and seasonal celebrations.

Gift-Giving

Giving gifts in December is one of the oldest traditions associated with this special time of year. When three wise men, guided by a star, traveled east to bring gifts to a babe in a manger, a tradition was born. Today there are Christian as well as Jewish celebrations tied to the idea of gift giving. And there is something special about anyone choosing a gift for another person. Written in 1905, O. Henry’s “Gift of the Magi” tells the story of two young lovers who both sacrificed their most prized possession in order to purchase something for the other. Those presents are unique and carefully chosen, yet many other gestures are also received with excitement and appreciation like homemade sugar cookies, candies or bread. Another fun idea includes sharing an experience. A gift card to a favorite restaurant, tickets to a movie, game or concert might just be the perfect gift to inspire a holiday memory and a future tradition.

Hurley

Small changes have been making big impacts in the life insurance industry, particularly when John Hancock Insurance introduced their new Vitality program. Cameron Hurley, owner and president of the Galaxy Insurance Group, shares details of this unique, first-of-its-kind life insurance product.

Q. What is the John Hancock Vitality program?

A. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), our behaviors and choices directly impact our overall health and longevity, and the four top causes of death are preventable diseases.

Therefore, John Hancock Insurance created a “living benefit” program called the Vitality Program, which is designed to support and reward health habits, and the program is included in all their policies. The areas of focus are nutrition, physical fitness and mental well-being. This is not like your normal insurance policy because it offers savings and rewards for healthy living.

Q. What incentives are offered with the Vitality program?

A. This policy is about getting people into shape and keeping people healthy. The more you participate, the greater your rewards – you can even lower your monthly premiums by participating in the program. Participants receive what we call “living perks” that include entertainment plus travel and shopping rewards from name brands such as Amazon, Starbucks, Whole Foods, Hotel.com, REI and more.

Q. What is the biggest perk of the Vitality program?

A. The biggest perk is the free Apple watch policyholders can earn. When you get the free Apple Watch you download the John Hancock Vitality app, which syncs to your watch, and members immediately start earning points by recording their healthy activities. So, as you log in and enter each step you take throughout the day, every time you drink water or complete a fitness

workout, you earn points. The more points earned, the higher your Vitality Status and the greater your rewards.

Q. What are other unique aspects about the Vitality program?

A. In the past when I sold life insurance, the application and underwriting process seemed strict and complicated, and clients often had to wait for two to three weeks to find out if they were approved. With the Vitality program, applicants are often approved within 10 minutes. We also have a policy to fit everyone’s budget, offering life insurance face values from $25,000 all the way to $500,000. Another great benefit: there’s no medical exam required.

The Vitality Program can save you money, offering tools and resources to help you live a longer, healthier life. Get rewarded today for your everyday healthy activities.

Written by Julie Underwood Burton

Navigating a Turbulent Real-Estate Market Is Hard

Written by Brian McGinley

For Smooth, Quick Approval Work With the Best

Sierra Pacific Mortgage is a privately held, independent mortgage bank made up of some of the best in the industry, going on 37 years. Founded in 1985 in Folsom, California, by Jim Coffrini, Sierra offers all types of mortgage lending products available to consumers to help make the dream of homeownership a reality.

Locally, Brian McGinley and team joined Sierra nine years ago this November and have experienced tremendous success along the way. The local team is made up of the best Wichita and Kansas have to offer under the leadership of Lauren Brown and Michelle Post. Both Brown and Post have been in their roles as top producing leaders for many years and have mentored several loan officers along the way, while maintaining top producer status themselves. McGinley started in the industry in 1997 and has had the opportunity to work alongside and later lead the best of the best. Most recently, Sierra Pacific holds the position of No. 2 lender for first mortgage loans in Sedgwick County and funds over 1,000 first mortgage loans annually.

Through technology and strong company pillars Sierra is able to compete and stay ahead of the competition, making the home buying process not only pain free, but also very easy in many instances. Allowing for a full loan approval – oftentimes at

About Sierra Pacific Mortgage

Sierra Pacific Mortgage Company, Inc. is a leading national independent mortgage lending company based in Folsom, California. Sierra Pacific serves the retail and wholesale mortgage banking markets in 49 states through three regional fulfillment centers. Our mission is to deliver consistent, competitive pricing, and to provide customers with the finest experience through streamlined systems, the best industry tools, effective communication, and superior customer service with every branch, every day.

• Sierra Pacific Mortgage (SPM), with headquarters in Folsom, California, is a privately held company.

• Licensed in 49 states, SPM provides quality mortgage lending services throughout the United States.

• We are a nationwide direct lender offering an assortment of residential lending programs, including FHA, VA, USDA and conventional loan programs. We are an approved seller and servicer for Fannie Mae, Ginnie Mae and Freddie Mac.

application – FastTrack is one of the tools separating us from the competition. Sierra recognizes the importance of making sure this process is as smooth and quick as possible, especially in a competitive real estate market where buyers are often up against multiple offers. Where

Lauren Brown Michelle Post

By Nahid Holmes | Design Source Interiors